Amado Zeppi, 18, of Bradenton Beach, was arrested Oct. 20 in connection with a residential break-in on Palm Harbor Drive following an altercation with police.
Holmes Beach police were alerted to the 11:35 a.m. burglary by a vacationer, who called in a report of a man wearing a black-hooded jacket, pulling a kayak down the road and also loading a flat-screen TV into a vehicle.
Chief Bill Tokajer and officers Joel Pierce and Lee Diehl apprehended Zeppi as he walked to a GMC SUV at Palm Harbor and South Harbor drives in the neighborhood near St. Bernard Catholic Church.
Police checked nearby homes and found the Palm Harbor Drive home and vehicle burglarized, with a door and window broken. The SUV contained a kayak and several flat screen TVs, which belonged to the owner of the Palm Harbor residence.
Police reported finding Mace in Zeppi’s pocket and a knife and burglary tools at the scene.
When police confronted Zeppi, he allegedly confessed, saying the victim “probably owned three houses,” according to the police report.
During the arrest, Zeppi allegedly swore and threatened Pierce, saying he would “come after” the officer and his family when he got out of jail, according to the police report.
HBPD charged Zeppi with armed burglary to a vehicle and residence, threats and battery to a law enforcement officer, carrying a concealed weapon, grand theft, criminal damage to property and possession of marijuana.
He was transported to Manatee County jail.
At press time Oct. 23, Zeppi was being held without bond for the armed burglary charge and assigned a $9,500 bond on the other charges.
Zeppi had been arrested July 13 by HBPD for possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The charges were adjudicated Oct. 12, resulting in a deferred sentence and court intervention contract.
Committing “any new crimes” and carrying firearms and weapons are prohibited under the contract.
Zeppi’s arraignment on the Palm Harbor burglary charges is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.